1 Chronicles 17:27

KJV

Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and [it shall be] blessed for ever.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now therefore let it please {H2974} thee to bless {H1288} the house {H1004} of thy servant {H5650}, that it may be before {H6440} thee for ever {H5769}: for thou blessest {H1288}, O LORD {H3068}, and it shall be blessed {H1288} for ever {H5769}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and now it has pleased you to bless the family of your servant and thereby cause it to continue forever in your presence. For you, ADONAI, have blessed, and it is blessed forever."

Berean Standard Bible

So now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

American Standard Version

and now it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed for ever.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 17:27 serves as the powerful culmination of King David's prayer of thanksgiving, offered in humble and awe-filled response to the magnificent covenant promise delivered by God through the prophet Nathan. This verse encapsulates David's unwavering confidence in God's absolute sovereignty and unchangeable faithfulness, appealing to the divine character as the ultimate guarantor of the eternal dynasty God has promised him. It stands as a profound affirmation that what God blesses, He blesses irrevocably and perpetually, securing David's house "for ever" through His own inherent power and unwavering word.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse provides the climactic conclusion to David's extended prayer of thanksgiving found in [1 Chronicles 17](/1_chronicles/17 "1 Chronicles 17 - David's Prayer and God's Covenant"). The chapter opens with David's heartfelt, yet human-centric, desire to construct a permanent temple for the Lord. However, through the prophet Nathan, God dramatically reorients David's perspective by revealing His own counter-plan: God, not David, will build a "house" (dynasty) for David, establishing an enduring kingdom, a successor who will build the temple, and a throne that will be established "for ever" ([1 Chronicles 17:11-14](/1_chronicles/17-11 "1 Chronicles 17:11-14 - God's Promise to David")). Overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of this undeserved grace and the faithfulness of God, David enters the Lord's presence to offer a prayer of profound humility, gratitude, and confident affirmation. This concluding verse is not a desperate plea but an earnest and confident appeal for God to confirm what He has already promised, grounded in the immutable nature of God's word. The Chronicler's strategic placement of this prayer immediately following the covenant emphasizes David's exemplary and appropriate response to divine revelation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, the stability, longevity, and prosperity of a king's dynasty were paramount, often viewed as direct indicators of divine favor and legitimacy. Kings frequently sought to solidify their legacy through monumental building projects, including temples dedicated to their deities. David's initial ambition to build a temple for God was thus a culturally understandable and pious aspiration for a powerful monarch. However, God's surprising reversal—promising to build David's "house" (dynasty) instead—subverts typical human expectations and powerfully underscores divine initiative and sovereignty. While other regional powers might aspire to "eternal" kingdoms, only the God of Israel could genuinely guarantee such permanence. The Chronicler, writing for a post-exilic community grappling with the apparent dissolution of the Davidic monarchy, meticulously emphasizes the enduring nature of the Davidic covenant. This focus served to offer profound hope and continuity, reminding them that God's promises, even when seemingly delayed or disrupted by historical catastrophes like the exile, remain eternally valid. This unwavering emphasis on the "house" of David was absolutely crucial for sustaining the messianic hope within the returning community, pointing towards a future restoration and a king from David's line.
* **Key Themes:** This verse profoundly contributes to several major theological themes woven throughout [1 Chronicles](/1_chronicles/1 "1 Chronicles - The Book of Chronicles"). Firstly, it highlights **God's Unquestionable Sovereignty and Power to Bless**. David's declarative statement, "for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever," underscores a fundamental truth: God's blessing is not a conditional or temporary bestowal but an absolute, effective, and eternal act. What God initiates and blesses remains blessed, independent of human merit, changing circumstances, or the passage of time. Secondly, **Divine Faithfulness** is central. David is not asking God to *begin* blessing, but to *continue* and *confirm* His promised blessing, fully confident that God is true to His word and unchanging character. This resonates with the broader biblical truth of God's immutability, as articulated in passages like [Malachi 3:6](/malachi/3-6 "Malachi 3:6 - God Does Not Change"). Thirdly, the repeated emphasis on "for ever" highlights the **Eternal Nature of the Covenant** concerning David's "house" or dynasty. This covenant, with its promise of an unending kingdom, ultimately points to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would descend from David and whose kingdom would truly be everlasting, as prophesied in [Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - Prophecy of Christ's Eternal Kingdom"). Finally, the verse powerfully demonstrates **Confidence in Prayer**. David's prayer is not a desperate plea stemming from doubt, but a confident affirmation of God's power and willingness to fulfill His own declared intentions, acknowledging God's sovereign will with the phrase "let it please thee."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **House (Hebrew, _bayith_):** From H1004, this term primarily refers to a physical dwelling, but its rich semantic range extends to encompass a **family, lineage, or dynasty**. In this context, as throughout the Davidic Covenant, "house" specifically denotes David's royal succession and the enduring line of his descendants who would occupy the throne. David's desire was to build a physical "house" (temple) for God, but God promised to build an eternal "house" (dynasty) for David, highlighting the divine initiative in establishing the royal line.
* **Bless (Hebrew, _bârak_):** From H1288, this primitive root signifies "to kneel," and by implication, "to bless." When God blesses, it is an act of inherent divine power that bestows favor, prosperity, and well-being, bringing about the desired effect. It is not merely a verbal declaration but an effective act of grace that confers life, fruitfulness, and permanence. In this verse, God's blessing on David's house implies divine sanction, protection, and the guarantee of its enduring existence and success.
* **For ever (Hebrew, _‘ôwlâm_):** From H5769, this term denotes eternity, perpetuity, or a very long, indefinite period. In the context of divine promises and covenants, especially concerning God's actions, it carries the weight of absolute, unending duration. Its emphatic threefold repetition within this single verse ("for ever" appears three times) powerfully underscores the absolute and irreversible permanence of God's blessing on David's dynasty, signaling an eternal covenant that transcends all human limitations and historical contingencies.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant":** This opening phrase is a humble, reverent, and deeply theological petition. "Now therefore" serves as a direct logical connector, linking David's prayer to God's preceding covenant promise. The phrase "let it please thee" acknowledges God's sovereign will and initiative, demonstrating David's submission and trust rather than a demanding posture. David asks God to confirm and establish the "house" (dynasty) that God has already promised to build for him, recognizing that its permanence and prosperity depend entirely on God's ongoing favor and omnipotent power.
* **"that it may be before thee for ever":** This clause articulates the desired outcome and ultimate purpose of God's blessing: the perpetual existence of David's dynasty in God's immediate presence and under His divine oversight. "Before thee" implies divine watchfulness, protection, and continuous approval. The phrase "for ever" reiterates and underscores the eternal nature of the promised dynasty, aligning perfectly with God's earlier declaration that David's throne would be established "for ever" ([1 Chronicles 17:14](/1_chronicles/17-14 "1 Chronicles 17:14 - God's Eternal Promise to David")).
* **"for thou blessest, O LORD, and [it shall be] blessed for ever":** This is the profound theological bedrock of David's confidence and the driving force behind his prayer. The initial "for" introduces the foundational reason or ground for David's petition. David is not asking God to do something new or uncertain, but rather to act consistently with His own inherent character and power. The declarative statement "thou blessest, O LORD" is a powerful affirmation of God's intrinsic nature as the sole and ultimate source of all true blessing. The subsequent consequence, "and [it shall be] blessed for ever," is a statement of absolute certainty and divine guarantee. God's blessing is not a temporary bestowal but an eternal reality; once God blesses, that blessing is permanent, irreversible, and perpetually sustained. The passive voice "it shall be blessed" further highlights that the permanence of the blessing is entirely due to God's active, enduring, and sovereign will, independent of human effort.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological message. **Repetition** is prominently used with the phrase "for ever," appearing three times within this single verse. This emphatic repetition serves to underscore the absolute and unending permanence of God's covenant and blessing, leaving no doubt about its eternal nature and divine guarantee. There is also a clear **Parallelism** in the structure "thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever." This functions as a powerful cause-and-effect statement, highlighting the direct and inevitable consequence of God's divine action. God's act of blessing (the cause) directly results in an eternal state of blessedness (the effect). The overall tone is one of **Prayer as Affirmation**, where David's petition is not a plea born of doubt or a desperate attempt to sway God, but rather an expression of confident faith. His prayer echoes back God's own words and rests securely on His unchangeable character, demonstrating a deep theological understanding of God's sovereignty, where human prayer aligns with and confirms divine purpose.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 17:27 stands as a powerful testament to the unshakeable nature of God's covenant faithfulness and the inherent efficacy of His divine blessing. It underscores that God's promises are not contingent on human performance or fluctuating circumstances but are immutably grounded in His own eternal character and sovereign will. David's prayer, far from being a plea for God to change His mind, is a humble yet confident affirmation of what God has already declared. This foundational principle—that God's blessing, once bestowed, is inherently permanent—reverberates throughout the entirety of Scripture, providing a robust foundation for understanding divine election, the security of salvation, and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom. It teaches us that to be blessed by the Lord is to be eternally secured by His divine favor, a truth that offers immense comfort, unwavering assurance, and profound peace to all who trust in His unchanging word.

* [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God is Not a Man That He Should Lie")
* [Psalm 89:3-4](/psalm/89-3 "Psalm 89:3-4 - God's Covenant with David")
* [Romans 11:29](/romans/11-29 "Romans 11:29 - God's Gifts and Call Are Irrevocable")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This verse offers profound encouragement and a bedrock of assurance for believers today, reminding us of the unwavering nature of God's promises and the enduring, securing power of His blessing. Just as King David could confidently appeal to God's character, knowing that what God blesses remains blessed forever, so too can we approach God in prayer with absolute assurance and profound trust. Our confidence is not rooted in our own merit, worthiness, or ability to persuade God, but solely in His revealed character, His unchanging word, and His sovereign, benevolent will. This verse calls us to align our prayers with God's declared purposes, trusting implicitly that when He has spoken, His word carries inherent power and permanence, bringing about what He has promised. It invites us to rest securely in the blessings He has already bestowed and those He has promised, knowing that every good and perfect gift comes from Him and is sustained by His eternal faithfulness. Our hope for the future, both individually and corporately as the church, rests on the unshakeable truth that "thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever."

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's confident prayer, rooted in God's character, challenge or affirm your own approach to prayer and trust in God's promises?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you need to remember that "what God blesses, it shall be blessed for ever," and how might that truth shape your perspective and actions?**
* **Considering the "forever" nature of God's blessing on David's house, how does this verse speak to the enduring security of God's covenant with His people today, the church?**
* **What does it truly mean for God to "please" to bless, and how does this concept influence your understanding of divine sovereignty and the effectiveness of human petition?**

### FAQ

**Why does David ask God to bless his house if God had already promised to establish it forever?**

Answer: David's prayer is not a plea born of doubt or an attempt to persuade God to do something He hasn't already committed to. Instead, it is a profound act of **affirmation, worship, and humble acceptance** of God's sovereign will. In ancient Near Eastern thought, and throughout Scripture, prayer often functions as a means by which humanity aligns itself with God's purposes and expresses profound faith in His promises. David is essentially saying, "Lord, you have promised this magnificent thing, and I know that because you are God, your word is absolutely sure and unbreakable. Therefore, I ask you to do what you have already declared you will do, for your blessing is eternal and irreversible." It demonstrates his complete trust in God's faithfulness and acknowledges that the fulfillment of the promise depends entirely on God's power and initiative, not on human effort. It is a model of prayer that echoes God's own heart and finds its confidence solely in His revealed character and unchangeable word, as seen in [Numbers 23:19](/numbers/23-19 "Numbers 23:19 - God is Not a Man That He Should Lie").

**What is the significance of the repeated phrase "for ever" in this verse?**

Answer: The threefold repetition of "for ever" (Hebrew: _‘ôwlâm_) is a powerful literary and theological device that emphasizes the **absolute and unending permanence** of God's blessing and the Davidic covenant. It underscores that God's promises are not temporary, conditional, or subject to human failure or historical change. For the Chronicler's post-exilic audience, who had witnessed the apparent collapse and exile of the Davidic monarchy, this emphatic repetition of "for ever" was profoundly crucial. It served as a powerful reminder that despite the current challenging circumstances, God's covenant with David remained eternally valid and would ultimately be fulfilled in a way that transcended their immediate historical experience. This divine guarantee of perpetuity points beyond David's immediate lineage to a future, eternal kingdom, ultimately and perfectly fulfilled in the Messiah, Jesus Christ, as highlighted in prophecies such as [Luke 1:33](/luke/1-33 "Luke 1:33 - Christ's Eternal Kingdom").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Chronicles 17:27 finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "house" (dynasty) of David, which God promised to establish "for ever," culminates in Jesus, who is explicitly identified as the "Son of David" from the very beginning of the New Testament ([Matthew 1:1](/matthew/1-1 "Matthew 1:1 - Genealogy of Jesus")). The angel Gabriel's prophecy to Mary directly echoes the Davidic covenant, stating that God "will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of His kingdom there will be no end" ([Luke 1:32-33](/luke/1-32 "Luke 1:32-33 - Prophecy of Christ's Eternal Reign")). Jesus is the true and eternal King, the rightful heir to David's throne, whose kingdom is not of this world but is everlasting and spiritual ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Is Not of This World")). Furthermore, the "blessing" that God bestows "for ever" is fully and perfectly realized in Christ. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross and His triumphant resurrection, Jesus secured eternal life and every spiritual blessing for all who believe and are united with Him ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed in Christ")). He is the ultimate "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")) through whom God's eternal covenant of grace is established, ensuring that all who are "in Christ" are eternally blessed and secured by the very power and faithfulness of God that David so confidently affirmed. Thus, David's confident declaration, "for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever," is a profound prophetic anticipation of the eternal and unbreakable blessing found in Christ's everlasting kingdom and His redemptive work.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ephesians 1:3

¶ Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:

Romans 11:29

For the gifts and calling of God [are] without repentance.

Psalms 72:17

His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and [men] shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

Genesis 27:33

And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where [is] he that hath taken venison, and brought [it] me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, [and] he shall be blessed.